GB2376557A

GB2376557A - Display mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2376557A
Application number: GB0114652A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Ligertwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-15
Filing date: 2001-06-15
Publication date: 2002-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-15
Also published as: GB2376557B; GB0114652D0

Abstract

A display mounting for a unit such as a plasma display comprising a back plate 12 to which the plasma display is mounted and a stay plate 14 which can be attached to a wall. The back plate 12 has integral prongs 15,16 which engage in slots 17,18 in the stay plate 14 and allow it to pivot about engaging axis E. The back plate also has slots 19,20 whereby it can engage with prongs 21,22 in the stay plate 14 to enable the back plate 12 to be retained in a storage alignment. A plurality of stays 24,25,26 are pivotably attached to the stay plate 14 enabling each stay to rotate about a stay axis S. Each stay 24,25,26 is provided with a pair of complimentary apertures which can be engaged with the appropriate pair of threaded sockets on the top edge of the back plate 12 by means of a pair of thumb bolts so that the back plate 12 can be set at a predetermined angle relative to the stay plate 14.

Description

DISPLAY MOUNTING This invention relates to a display mounting. It is particularly concerned with a display mounting whereby a display unit such as a plasma screen can be readily mounted at a location and aligned to enable information displayed on the screen to be readily viewed.

Information frequently needs to be displayed at a location or series of locations.

Typical sites where this is required include airports, rail and bus stations; sports centres, arenas, and grounds; entertainment centres, broadcasting studios, media centres hospitals and exhibition centres. An electronic display of information is readily comprehensible and can be readily changed to reflect a change from one set of information to an updated version. Such displays, which can be repeated over a substantial area, are readily managed from a single control centre. Apart from, or in addition to, data or message information a display can also be used for advertising, pictures, decorative material. This helps to provide for a degree of stress reduction in what is an inherently a stressful environment).

Currently plasma screens along with other flat panel display means are coming into widespread use. Typically they are replacing old fashioned video display units based on cathode ray tubes which generate heat and are bulky, cumbersome and expensive especially where a large display is involved.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display mounting for a display unit such as a plasma display comprising : a back plate for securing to a display unit to be located by way of the mounting; and a stay plate for attachment to a support means for the mounting, such as a wall or load bearing member, the stay plate being adapted to: receive and retain the back plate, and to sustain the weight of the back plate either on its own or when or in combination with a display unit and retain the back plate in any one of a number of different angular working positions relative to the stay plate; the back plate being characterised

by-first engaging means whereby the back plate can pivotably engage with the stay plate to enable the back plate to pivot about an engaging axis relative to the stay plate; second engaging means whereby the back plate can engage with the stay plate to enable the back plate to be retained in a storage alignment and a plurality of working alignments with the stay plate (at least when the first engaging means is engaged with the stay plate), the storage alignment serving to define a datum alignment of the back plate with the stay plate; anchorage means spaced from the engaging axis; the stay plate being characterised by-first receiving means adapted to receive and retain the first engaging means to enable the back plate to pivot about the engaging axis as aforesaid; second receiving means adapted to receive and retain the second engaging means to enable the back plate to be retained in the storage alignment as aforesaid; a plurality of stays pivotably attached to the stay plate by pivoting means enabling teach stay in the plurality to rotate about a stay axis, each stay having a complementary anchorage means which, when engaged with the anchorage means of the back plate, serves to maintain the back plate, and so any display unit attached thereto, at a working alignment at a predetermined angle relative to the stay plate.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the engaging axis and the stay axis are parallel.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof wherein each stay in the plurality thereof is attached to the stay plate by way of at least two attachment means each spaced apart on the stay axis.

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the pivoting means, for each stay in the plurality, provides that the stay, when in the storage alignment can be displaced, to a limited extent, in the plane of the stay relative to the stay plate and as the stay is rotated from the storage alignment to a working alignment the pivoting means

functions to limit the ability of the stay to be displaced in the plane of the stay relative to the stay plate.

According to a fourth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the first engaging means comprises at least two projections spaced from one another along the engaging axis and the first receiving means comprises a pair of complementary slots, each slot serving to limit travel of a projection located therein in a direction parallel to or transverse the engaging axis while allowing a degree of rotation of the projection relative to the engaging axis.

According to a fifth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the second engaging means comprise at least two complementary slots spaced from one another along a retaining axis parallel to the engaging axis and the second receiving means comprises at least two projections spaced from one another, each slot serving to limit travel of a projection located therein in a direction parallel to or transverse the retaining axis.

According to a sixth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the first and second engagement means are adapted so that the second engagement means can be caused to locally release the back plate from engagement with the stay plate while enabling the first engagement means to cause the back plate to be locally maintained in engagement with the stay plate.

According to a seventh preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version a retaining means is provided whereby the back plate, in the vicinity of the engaging axis, is connected to the stay plate so as to allow angular displacement of the back plate relative to the stay plate about the while inhibiting linear displacement of the back plate relative to the stay plate.

According to an eighth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the back plate, first engaging means and second engaging means are formed from sheet material According to a ninth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the stay plate, first receiving means, second receiving means and the plurality of stays are formed from sheet material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a display mounting according to the first aspect s or any preferred version thereof having mounted on it to provide an operable connected as including a display unit such as a plasma display screen secured to the backing plate.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a display mounting of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bracket with its components in a storage position; Figure 2 is an exploded view including the components of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a stay plate a component shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the bracket along Section IV-IV of Figure 6; Figure 4A shows a part of Figure 4 enlarged to give a clearer detail view; and Figures 5,6 and 7 show the bracket in, respectively, first second and third working section positions.

Figures 1 to 4 variously show a display mounting 11 made up of a back plate 12 (which, as shown in Figure 1, has attached to it a plasma display panel 13 shown in broken outline) which is mounted on a stay plate 14 secured to a vertical wall 15. In Figure 1 the components of the display mounting 11 are shown in their storage configuration. In Figure 2 the components of the mounting 11 are shown in an exploded view.

The stay plate 14 is adapted as will be described hereafter for attachment to the wall 15 so as to : receive and locate back plate 12, sustain the weight of the back plate 12 either alone or in combination with the display panel 13; and retain the back plate 12 in a storage position (as shown in Figure 1) or one of three different angular working positions relative to the stay plate 14. In this way in any given location of the mounting 11 the display panel 13 is directed so as to provide for clear legibility of information displayed on front 13A of the panel 13.

The back plate 12 is adapted as will be described hereafter to provide: first engaging means in the form of integral prongs 15,16 whereby the back plate 12 can engage slots 17,18 in channel F forming the lower side of the stay plate 14.

The engagement of prongs 15,16 with, respectively, slots 17,18 enable the back plate 12 to pivot about an engaging axis E relative to the stay plate 14; second engaging means in the form of slots 19,20 whereby the back plate 12 can engage with, respectively, prongs 21,22 in the stay plate 14 to enable the back plate 12 to be retained in a storage alignment (as shown in Figure 1) or a plurality of working alignments (as shown in Figures 4-7) with the stay plate 14 at least when the first engaging means, prongs 15,16, are engaged with slots 17,18 in the stay plate 14.

The back plate (Figures 1 and 2) has in its upper edge flange 12A three pairs of threaded sockets LI, L2 and L3 which serve as anchorages for stays 24,25, 26 as will be described hereafter.

The storage alignment of the components as shown in Figure 1 serves to define a datum alignment of the back plate 12 with the stay plate 14 (effectively when the two plates are parallel).

As shown in Figures 3 to 7 a plurality of stays 24, 25 26 are pivotably attached to the stay plate 14 by pivoting means enabling each stay in the plurality to rotate about a stay axis S.

Each stay 24-26 is provided with a pair of complementary apertures Sl, S2, S3 which can be engaged with the appropriate pair of threaded sockets L1, L2, L3 on the top edge of the back plate by means of a pair of thumb bolts B1, B2. When the bolts Bl, B2 are engaged with a pair of sockets the back platel2, and so any display unit attached thereto, is in a working alignment at a predetermined angle relative to the stay plate.

Figure 4 shows the back plate 12 secured at an angle of 10 degrees relative to the stay plate 14 by stay 25. In this position bolts B1 and B2 have been inserted in holes 52 in stay 25 and engaged with the pair of threaded sockets L2.

Figures 5 to 7 show the appropriate stay 24,25 and 26 engaged to establish working angels of, respectively, 5,10 and 15 degrees.

Each stay 24,25, 26 in the plurality is attached to the stay plate 14 at their inboard ends by way of at least two attachment means each spaced apart symmetrically about centre X on the stay axis S. Stay 24 has T-shaped pivot ends 24A, B. Stay 25 has side arms ending in T-shaped ends 25A, Stay 26 has side arms ending in t-shaped ends 26A.

Each pair of T-shaped end 24A, 25a, 26A are seated in an aperture of rectangular cross section in channel 35 as shown in Figure 4 with an enlargement in Figure 4A. The channel 35 is welded to stay plate 14 and serves to stiffen flange 36 forming a top to the stay plate 14. Both channel 35 and flange 36 are cut away to provide six apertures disposed symmetrically in pairs on either side of axis X. The apertures provide for the t-shaped ends 24A, 25A, 26A of the stays 24,25, 26 to extend into and be located for retained movement relative to the stay plate 14.

Figure 4A shows from the side one of the T-shaped end 25A with a length Z in two positions located in channel 35. In the first, storage, position (stay detail shown vertical in full outline) height Q of aperture 29 is greater than length Z so that the stay 25 is a relatively free floating fit within the aperture 29. As the stay 25 is pivoted round to its working position (stay detail shown horizontal in broken outline) the size of aperture 29 effectively reduces to length P which approximates to that length Z of shaped end 25A of the stay 25. Consequently the stay end 25A when at or near its working alignment cannot be freely displaced in the plane of the stay 25 and this serves to eliminate any relative motion between the back plate 12 and the stay plate 14.

The assembly and securing of a plasma screen 13 by means of the mounting 11 is undertaken as follows.

The mounting 11 is dismantled with the back plate 12 is separated from the stay screen 14.

The plasma screen 13 is bolted to the back plate 12 in the required orientation (portrait or landscape) relative to the horizontal.

The stay plate 14 is located securely on wall 15 in a known manner such as by wall bolts.

The combined back plate 12 and plasma screen 13 are then presented to the secured stay plate 14 by raising the vertically aligned plate and screen prongs 15,16 can be inserted into, respectively, slots 17,18 in the stay plate 14. The combined back plate 12 and screen 13 are then lowered until the lower edge of the back plate 12 seats on channel F forming a clanged lower edge for the stay plate 14. The prongs 15,16 are of thicker material than the remainder of the back plate 12 so that even if the combined back plate 12 and screen 13 were at that point otherwise left unsupported the combined plate and screen could pivot forward but the stiffness of the prongs 15,16

interacting with slots 17,18 ensures that the prongs would not bend but merely enable the combined plate and screen to pivot forwardly to only a limited extent and without bending the prongs and so would not allow the back plate 12 to pivot past a safe angular position relative to the secured stay plate 14. The occurrence of such unsupported movement would normally only arise inadvertently but the interaction described would prevent the combined plate and screen from falling and so prevent injury to people passing beneath an elevated mounting 11 or to the plasma screen 13.

If desired another safety means can be incorporated linking the back panel 12 to the stay plate 14 such as a wire rope lanyard.

Rather than relying on the prongs 15,16 to interact with slots 17,18 as the sole means of retention during the assembly process the combined back plate and screen is pivoted backwardly so as to cause the back plate 12to rotate about axis E until the back plate 12 contacts the stay plate 12. The combined back plate 12 and screen 13 are then lifted sufficiently to raise the slots 19,20 in the top flange 12A of the back plate 12 until they are higher than the top of the prongs 21,22 in the top flange of the stay plate 14.

Even in this position the prongs 15,16 are designed to be long enough relative to the length of the prongs 21,22 to be long enough to be retained engaged in the slots 17,18 so even in this raised position inadvertent release of the combined plate and screen will not result in them falling clear of the remainder of the mounting. ll.

Having raised the combined plate and screen so that slots 19,20 are then positioned above the prongs 21,22. The combined plate and screen is then lowered so that the prongs 21,22 project through the slots 19,20 and the combined unit can then be lowered to seat on the channel F.

Once the angular alignment of the back plate 12 relative to the stay plate 14 has been selected the combined plate and screen are raised so that slots 19,20 clear the prongs 21,22 and the combined plate and screen are allowed to pivot forwardly about axis E

and the appropriate stay from the plurality (in this case sty 25) is selected and pivoted upwardly to enable the top edge of the plate and screen combination to be moved back until the apertures in the free end of the stay are located as shown in Figure 4 and the bolts Bl and B2 are inserted and screwed into the threaded sockets LI, L2. This completes the setting up process for the screen 13 which can now be connected to the necessary power and data supplies to enable the unit assembled unit to be brought into operation displaying information or whatever.

In this embodiment the mounting unit 11 of the exemplary embodiment the back plate 12, prongs 15,16 are formed from sheet material. The stay plate 14, channel F, prongs 21,22 and channel 35, and the plurality of stays 24,25, 26 are likewise formed from sheet material.

The present invention provides a mounting unit having a number of substantial advantages over existing units.

The present invention provides for a'flat pack'construction (typically pressed from sheet metal) obviating the need for rods or threaded members which is compact in form. The resulting unit is readily mounted with the stay plate being secured to a wall or other support. alignment the unit is said to be in its storage alignment with back panel 12 and stay panel 14 parallel. This completes the mounting of the backplate and plasma screen.

In the event that the front of the plasma panel is readily viewed by a user with the unit 11 in this alignment then no further action need be taken.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A display mounting for a display unit such as a plasma display comprising: a back plate for securing to a display unit to be located by way of the mounting; and a stay plate for attachment to a support means for the mounting, such as a wall or load bearing member, the stay plate being adapted to: receive and retain the back plate, and to sustain the weight of the back plate either on its own or when or in combination with a display unit and retain the back plate in any one of a number of different angular working positions relative to the stay plate; the back plate being characterised by- first engaging means whereby the back plate can pivotably engage with the stay plate to enable the back plate to pivot about an engaging axis relative to the stay plate; second engaging means whereby the back plate can engage with the stay plate to enable the back plate to be retained in a storage alignment and a plurality of working alignments with the stay plate (at least when the first engaging means is engaged with the stay plate), the storage alignment serving to define a datum alignment of the back plate with the stay plate; anchorage means spaced from the engaging axis; the stay plate being characterised by- first receiving means adapted to receive and retain the first engaging means to enable the back plate to pivot about the engaging axis as aforesaid ; second receiving means adapted to receive and retain the second engaging means to enable the back plate to be retained in the storage alignment as aforesaid; a plurality of stays pivotably attached to the stay plate by pivoting means enabling teach stay in the plurality to rotate about a stay axis, each stay having a

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complementary anchorage means which, when engaged with the anchorage means of the back plate, serves to maintain the back plate, and so any display unit attached thereto, at a working alignment at a predetermined angle relative to the stay plate.
2 A display mounting as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the engaging axis and the stay axis are parallel.
3 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each stay in the plurality thereof is attached to the stay plate by way of at least two attachment means each spaced apart on the stay axis;
4 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pivoting means, for each stay in the plurality, provides that the stay, when in the storage alignment can be displaced, to a limited extent, in the plane of the stay relative to the stay plate and as the stay is rotated from the storage alignment to a working alignment the pivoting means functions to limit the ability of the stay to be displaced in the plane of the stay relative to the stay plate.
5 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first engaging means comprises at least two projections spaced from one another along the engaging axis and the first receiving means comprises a pair of complementary slots, each slot serving to limit travel of a projection located therein in a direction parallel to or transverse the engaging axis while allowing a degree of rotation of the projection relative to the engaging axis.
6 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second engaging means comprise at least two complementary slots spaced from one another along a retaining axis parallel to the engaging axis and the second receiving means comprises at least two projections spaced from one another,

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each slot serving to limit travel of a projection located therein in a direction parallel to or transverse the retaining axis.
7 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second engagement means are adapted so that the second engagement means can be caused to locally release the back plate from engagement with the stay plate while enabling the first engagement means to cause the back plate to be locally maintained in engagement with the stay plate.
8 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a retaining means is provided whereby the back plate, in the vicinity of the engaging axis, is connected to the stay plate so as to allow angular displacement of the back plate relative to the stay plate about the while inhibiting linear displacement of the back plate relative to the stay plate.
9 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the back plate,

first engaging means and second engaging means are formed from sheet 0 material
10 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stay plate, first receiving means, second receiving means and the plurality of stays are formed from sheet material.
11 A display mounting as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12 A display mounting as claimed in any preceding claim including a display unit such as a plasma display screen secured to the backing plate.

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13 A display mounting as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the display unit is displaying information.